Admission Requirements

Getting Started with UIC

The admission requirements for UIC’s Health Informatics and Health Information Management programs vary depending on the degree or certificate for which you apply. Please consult the list below for each program.

Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI)

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution • At least 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA in undergraduate study or for all terminal graduate degrees, or for all terminal graduate or professional degrees. • For any post-baccalaureate work a cumulative GPA for any graduate-level coursework must be at least 3.0/4.0. • A final cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 for UIC’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Informatics will also be accepted. Credit for courses taken in the program no more than 5 years in the past. • A minimum of two years of work experience in industries that can directly translate to health informatics, such as healthcare, IT, health information management, consulting or law. Academic internships do not count as full time employment are excluded. • Copies of official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended • Resume highlighting the applicant’s education and experience • Personal statement from the applicant addressing the outcomes and benefits the applicant hopes to receive by completing the program • Three letters of recommendation • No GRE or GMAT required • Non-refundable $70 application fee • Minimum English Competency Test Score: TOEFL – if the applicant has taken paper-based TOEFL, minimum scores in the range of 585-600 will be considered; in addition, the applicant must take the Test of Written English and submit scores in the range of 5-6. Applicants taking the iBT Internet-based TOEFL must have a minimum score of 95, with subscores of Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 24 and Writing 24; OR an IELTS score of 7.0, with subscores of 6.5 for all four subscores.

Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Informatics (PMC HI) • Graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution • A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 for all graduate work • A minimum of two years of work experience in industries that can directly translate to health informatics, such as healthcare, IT, health information management, consulting or law. Academic internships do not count as full time employment are excluded. • Copies of official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended • Resume highlighting the applicant’s education and experience • Personal statement from the applicant addressing the outcomes and benefits the applicant hopes to receive by completing the certificate program • No GRE or GMAT required • Non-refundable $70 application fee At minimum, a master’s degree from any accredited graduate program is required. For those with an MBA, the degree must be granted either by UIC or another school accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (http://aacsb.edu/).Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management (PBC HIM) • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution • Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75/4.0 for the last 60 hours of the undergraduate degree • Copies of official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended • Resume highlighting the applicant’s education and experience • Personal statement from the applicant, addressing the outcomes and benefits the applicant hopes to receive by completing the certificate program • Three recommendation forms • Program Requirements form • Interview to determine eligibility, interest and purpose of study • No GRE or GMAT required • Non-refundable $70 application fee • Completion of the prerequisite coursework, which may be completed after admission to the program. (Equivalent course work or professional experience will be considered. Students are encouraged to complete prerequisite coursework prior to or during the first semester to avoid delay in enrolling in required courses) Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BS HIM) • Minimum GPA 2.50/4.00 • Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended • Resume highlighting the applicant’s education and experience • Personal statement from the applicant, addressing the outcomes and benefits the applicant hopes to receive by completing the certificate program • Three recommendation forms • Interview to determine eligibility, interest and purpose of study • No GRE or GMAT required • Non-refundable $60 application fee • Program Requirements form • BS HIM Student: Confidentiality Statement • UIC Student: Information form • UIC BS HIM: Course Outline • Successful completion of the following undergraduate courses (60 semester or 90 quarter total transferable credit hours):

Academic Calendar

Three start dates per year offer the flexibility to begin your program. Two classes are offered in each Summer, Fall and Spring semester. Each course is eight weeks long, enabling you to take up to two classes per semester for the graduate programs and four to six for the bachelor’s program, allowing you to finish quickly.

Fall 2017

• Application Deadline*

• BSHIM – 6/1/17

• MSHI, PBCHIM, PMCHI – 7/15/17

• International Application Deadline – 6/15/16 • Registration Deadline – 8/18/17 • Classes Begin – 8/28/17 *Please note that the application deadlines for the Health Informatics Department may differ from the university’s application deadlines. All application materials must be received prior to the departmental deadline to be considered for enrollment in that term. Courses begin a week earlier than the university calendar, and there is a one-week overlap between A and B terms. University finals week is the last week of class.

Tuition

By continuing your education at UIC, you are making an investment in yourself that can lead to potential increased earnings, new professional opportunities and a greater level of satisfaction in your career. Below are the costs associated with UIC’s Health Informatics and Health Information Management online programs.

Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

63 total credit hoursExpenses per Credit Hour (for 2014-2015 academic year) Tuition: $500 Books: Non-applicable Expenses per Semester* Tuition: $5,434 – $8,398 Books: $75 – $100 each Expenses per Year* Tuition: $11,362 – $16,302 Books: $75 – $100 each Total Cost** Tuition: $31,122 Books: $2,100 – $2,500 *Dependent on number of credits enrolled per semester **Only includes the cost for the 63 core credit hours There are many options to help fund your education. Please visit the financial aid section of our website to learn more about funding your education. The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences complies with the U.S. Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Statute requirements by disclosing information to applicants regarding our Health Informatics and Health Information Management programs. The tuition rates above are based on AY 2012-2013 data and are subject to change by action of the University Board of Trustees. Estimated salary information for Health Informatics and Health Information Management professionals can be found on the ONET website using the appropriate SOC codes found here.

Financial Aid

An Investment in Your Future

Financial aid for your education is available from a variety of sources, including federal grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans, scholarship programs, private sources, student employment opportunities and sometimes even employer tuition assistance programs. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with and research all of your available options so that you can make the selection that best meets your individual needs. For more assistance, please contact UIC’s Office of Financial Aid: University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Student Financial Aid, MC 334 1800 Student Services Building 1200 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607 Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Phone: (312) 996-3126 Fax: (312) 996-3385 Email:money@uic.eduWebsite:http://www.uic.edu/depts/financialaid/index.shtmlUIC’s School Code: 001776 Find Priority Filing Dates for FAFSA.

UIC Office of Student Financial Aid Student Guides Are Now Online!

Please click here to visit our financial aid website for details. Our enrollment advisors can also help you find out if you may qualify for federal financial aid and/or private student loans. To learn more about whether you qualify for additional financial assistance, contact your enrollment advisor at 1-866-MSHI-UIC.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Terms

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Health Informatics and Health Information Management programs are designed for working adults taking courses either part or full time. All students are held to high performance standards consistent with graduate education in a research university. While our programs are flexible, courses are delivered in a “paced” mode, meaning deadline dates must be met in all courses, and student participation is expected daily. Effective July 1, 2011, federal regulations require that students applying for federal loan assistance must meet certain criteria whether or not they previously received aid. For graduate students (except doctorate and medical students), this policy applies to Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, as well as some other loan types. In order for you to continue to receive loan money, you must comply with these regulations set by the university in conjunction with federal regulations.

Maximum Timeframe (MTF)

The MTF is the required length of time it will take you to complete a degree program based on the appropriate enrollment status. Federal regulations allow a student to be eligible to receive aid up to 150 percent of the time it would normally take to complete a degree. UIC MTF: PB-HIM and BS-HIM programs: 3 years MS HI: 6 years

Minimum Completion Percentage (MCP)

The MCP is the percentage of coursework that a student must earn (pass) during enrollment. All UIC programs: 67%

Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA throughout the course of the program. BS-HIM: 2.0 MS-HI and PB HIM: 3.0

Important Loan Information

As with any loan, make sure you fully understand the interest rates, repayment terms and tax implications. Find out if interest charges are variable or fixed, if the loan has forgiveness or deferment provisions, if you can consolidate the loan with other loans and if the loan carries prepayment penalties. Borrow only what you need. Remember that loans must be repaid even if you do not finish school. Your education is a substantial investment. It’s one of the most important decisions you can make for your future. Take time to learn all of your financial aid options before you make any decision.

Our Policies

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Students may add or drop courses using the online registration system found in the myUIC student portal. During the university’s official drop period, students can drop a course at any time with Director of Graduate Study approval. Tuition refunds will be prorated according to published UIC policies. Once the drop period has passed, a petition process is required and may only be applied to extenuating circumstances (this does not include an unsatisfactory grade or a sudden work-related problem). The petition must be approved by the BHIS Director of Graduate Studies. For detailed instructions on add/drop/withdrawals, please click here.

Computer Requirements

Connecting the Classroom through Technology

All students must have access to a computer with the following minimum requirements: PC USERS • Processor: 2Ghz or faster • Memory: 2 GB of RAM or memory • Sound card and speakers • Network Connectivity: Broadband (Cable, DSL) or WiFi – Required. Cellular Internet connection (e.g; Air Card, MiFi) or dial up phone connection as your primary means of accessing your online course are not acceptable. The data transfer speed and reliability of your connection will directly influence your online learning experience. Additionally, without an unlimited data plan, accessing course videos, recorded webcasts, etc., can be costly, especially when considering the speed and connectivity issues with cellular Internet access. MAC USERS • Operating system: Mac G4 or G5 running OS 10 (or higher) • Memory: Minimum of 1 GB RAM • Hard drive: 40 GB HD IPAD USERS • Storage: 32 GB • Modem: Wi-Fi • RESTRICTION: Apple iPad and iPhone products do not support flash software; therefore, some course items will be inaccessible.The best Internet browser to use depends on the type of operating system on your computer. The supported technologies document from Blackboard lists which options are available. You can also check your browser using this testing link. * Please Note: If you are using Word 2007, you may experience difficulty sharing your documents electronically. Therefore, you will need to save your documents in a format that is compatible with earlier versions for Word. Students can purchase software at a discounted rate through the UIC Webstore.